yushendrayana Reviews

Gundala (2019)

The right path of Indonesian superhero movie.

[8/10 · 2 September 2019]

Pros The first of a lot to come, the movie kick starts the Bumi Langit Universe franchise. It has what you could have expected from a superhero origin story. The cinematography is on point, the sound is loud (it's good), character development is well enough, the action is strong and the villain is decent. There's event some easter eggs if you are a fan of Joko Anwar's movies. Oh, have I mentioned that it has comedy too?

Cons Sometime a movie wants to feed the audiences with some infos or details, it could be achieved through the dialogues between the characters. However early in this movie those dialogues were between parents and a children. I found that the way adults talked to their child was rather too serious and details. Also the speech of righteousness and justice in the movie dialogues were a bit cringe, please make it more subtle next time.

Overall the movie deserve the appreciations, I believe this movie already sets Indonesian superhero movies in the right path.

Pocong the Origin (2019)

It had potential but it lost its way

[4/10 · 31 August 2019]

I was hooked by the synopsis and I thought it would be something. The movie is kinda unique for Indonesian horror, it tries to incorporate emotional thing in it with father-daughter relation. I was expecting something like Korean movie like The Host, The Wailing or Train to Busan in context of father-daughter emotional relation.

However the movie lost its way as the story progresses. The movie keeps giving you random ghost encounters which doesn't add to the story. Then at some point the MC just flips her switch and goes full melancholic with her father. The writer could have cut the random ghost encounters and build more emotion by elaborated more about their past. In conclusion, it had potential but it lost its way with too many random ghost encounter scenes which ultimately weakens the story and ending.

Death Note (2006–2007)

Something you'll rewatch

[9/10 · 7 May 2019]

This anime is mainly about a genius student Light Yagami vs a super detective L. The theme is about the Dualism, both want Justice in this world but with really different approach. You can expect easy to follow plot but with complex multiple stages of thinking from this anime. I also want to mention that this anime have one of the best soundtrack in anime.

p.s. It's my subjective opinion but I suggest you to stop after Light vs L battle is finished. Beyond that is different realm that really different than original Light vs L part.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Honest Review

[8/10 · 28 April 2019]

Pros: top notch cinematic, over the top action, nice concept of time travel.

Cons: chaotic scenes with so many characters, forced cringe moments.

Headshot (II) (2016)

Nice shot but it's not good enough

[6/10 · 30 March 2018]

The movie follows our protagonist after washed on the shore dying and losing his memories. Turn out he was part of a dangerous terrorist organization and seeking out for a new life. Of course his old organization will not let him have his way that easily. Well, there is nothing new from this kind of story and nothing is wrong neither since the part about the organization and their method of recruitment were interesting. There are surely top notch fighting scenes with our infinite stamina protagonist. It might be physically impossible but well he is the man, again there is nothing wrong about this. The only thing I can't stand was the gun fight. I mean adding gun fights in action movie is actually good but everyone just have no sense of aiming and no one realize that they can kill enemy without have to point the gun right on the face. And there was even a moment where a grenade can launch a person to the air but it can't even break a glass window.

In conclusion the movie has a fine plot and settings, the hand/melee combats are top notch but the "gun physics" (also explosives effect) are kinda minus for the overall fighting scene. I hope they will done it better in the future works.

Perfect Number (2012)

Almost Perfect

[7/10 · 1 March 2018]

Overall I enjoy this movie, it is interesting to follow our protagonist way of thinking and learn how he manage to cover her crime perfectly.

But in the end it is revealed that our protagonist plan is start by disposing the ex-husband body perfectly where no one can possibly find them. Come on if he can do it in first place why do he need to more risky efforts? That fact just turn down my excitement of the entire movie plot. Maybe love did turn someone to be a fool.

Satan's Slaves (2017)

Decent horror movie

[8/10 · 28 February 2018]

As a horror movie fan I used to find lack of good horror movie from Indonesia. For quite some time they lack of real plot and lost in sexualized theme. This movie answer my thirst for a good horror movie. It shows that a horror is not just about ugly looking ghost and jump scares. I feel satisfied about the excellent old 80's vibes of the movie, the way it introduce the plot, the different approach of good vs evil and a "sweet" plot-twist for ending.

NB : this movies suck at making jokes that supposed to be an interlude.

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017)

Enjoying an adventure

[8/10 · 28 February 2018]

This movie will serve you an "adventure" of a local widow in her struggle of survival and her attempt to have justice for her. The settings of the story is in Sumba which is shown as vast land of withered meadow where people are strongly bound to unique/unusual norms and cultures.

As an Indonesian myself I am surprised by the environment in the movie. They are really unusual and look really harsh yet they are still relatable in the daily life. I feel that I may had met people who have same characters and witnessed various situations like in the movie.

Killer Toon (2013)

Good horror movie

[7/10 · 28 February 2018]

If you are a webtoon horror fan you will really enjoy this one.

If you are a horror movie fan in general this movie may give you a mixed feeling about it. Still this movie surely will serve you good acting, interesting story/mystery, and most importantly decent plot twist.